The radiant point for the Draconids is the head of the dragon in the constellation Draco. The peak is on the evening of October 8. Unlike most meteor showers, this one is best viewed in the early evening. This year, a waxing crescent moon will set during dusk, so it won't obscure the shower. The… Read More »Draconid Meteor Shower
Astronomy Day is a biannual event held in the United States and other countries. It is intended to promote interest in astronomy and interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups, and professionals. The day is observed in the spring and the fall. Astronomy Day in the spring always falls on a Saturday… Read More »Astronomy Day
Unfortunately, the full moon coincides with the peak of the Orionids this year, which occurs in the early morning of October 21. The radiant point of the Orionids is the club of the hunter Orion. The Orionids usually produce 10–20 meteors per hour.
Dr. Maria Hamilton, professor of physics at Marshall University, will present a lecture entitled "The Curious Incident of the Neutron Star Crashing at Night." Dr. Hamilton is the recipient of a prestigious fellowship from the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research centers on investigating the gravitational waves… Read More »October Meeting: The Curious Incident of the Neutron Star Crashing at Night
The two Taurid Meteor Showers last for several weeks before and after their peak dates, but often produce only around 5 meteors per hour, even at their peak. What makes them worth the effort, however, is the fact the they often include a large number of fireballs, extremely bright, long-lasting (1–3 seconds) meteors. The South… Read More »Taurid Meteor Showers
The two Taurid Meteor Showers last for several weeks before and after their peak dates, but often produce only around 5 meteors per hour, even at their peak. What makes them worth the effort, however, is the fact the they often include a large number of fireballs, extremely bright, long-lasting (1–3 seconds) meteors. The South… Read More »Taurid Meteor Showers
The Leonids usually produce 10–15 meteors per hours. They will peak on the morning of November 17.
Sue Bassett will present a lecture entitled "Fantastic Beasts and Why You Can't Find Them: An Astronomical View of Ice Age Extinctions." This event is free and open to the public. The zoom session will open at 7:00 pm for a meet and greet and technical checks. The presentation starts at 7:30 pm. Join Zoom… Read More »November Meeting: Fantastic Beasts and Why You Can’t Find Them
The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks on the evening of December 13, but the best viewing will be toward morning on December 14 after the moon has set. This is one of the most active showers of the year, often producing up to 50 visible meteors per hour in dark areas.
In December, we have our annual solstice party potluck instead of a regular meeting. Due to COVID-19 and lack of a venue, we are—for the second time—going to have a virtual potluck via zoom. Yes, that is weird, but these are weird times. So let's gather for dinner via Zoom and share our astronomy-related tales… Read More »Solstice Party
Winter begins in the northern hemisphere at the winter solstice at 10:58 AM EST on December 21. This solstice occurs when the earth's north pole is at its maximum tilt away from the sun. The summer solstice for the southern hemisphere occurs at the same time.